Keeping the River Open for Business (Cuyahoga River Dredging)

The Cuyahoga River is a fairly shallow body of water until it enters the wider & deeper commercial navigation channel where the change in river flow rate deposits large amounts of sediment. Twice a year the US Army Corps of Engineers dredges the Cuyahoga River in order to maintain a 26 foot deep channel for freighter traffic. Earlier this summer we captured their contractor, Ryba Marine Construction, hard at work along the ArcelorMittal docks.

The dredging crane's “clam bucket” takes 15 cubic yard bites out of the riverbed and deposits the sediment into a scow (a hollowed out barge). Once full, the scow holds 1,500 cubic yards of sediment, enough to fill 150 dump trucks. The total weight? Two million tons! More on this process here: http://www.portofcleveland.com/enewsletter-june-2013-along-the-water/

Early this spring the Port of Cleveland deployed a bed load interceptor upriver in Independence and it's hoped this will reduce the amount of sediment making its way into the navigation channel, reducing the frequency of future dredging operations.

Wizbang! at Flats East Bank

Has the time arrived for Cleveland to start thinking about its own version of a Coney Island or Navy Pier on the waterfront? Wizbang!'s pop-up circus at the Flats East Bank is fleshing out that idea on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. Wizbang's Danielle Tilk shares a few thoughts on Pinch and Squeal's evolution and their plans for the future.

Their final show of the weekend is Sunday at 1 p.m. Ticket info here: http://wzbang.brownpapertickets.com/

Cuyahoga River freighter time lapse

When you see freighters heading up the Cuyahoga River do you marvel at their ability to navigate through close quarters? We sure do, so we thought we'd give you a look at how these behemoths make the journey from Lake Erie to their industrial clients upriver.

You'll also see a wide perspective of the Scranton Flats Towpath as well as a segment of the newly dedicated Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail.

BTW, technically Interlake Steamship Company's Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder is a tug/barge combo but at one time, the Pathfinder WAS a freighter!